Prime Test 1: 35mm f/1.4
(Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) - I was bored so I decided to try out some prime lenses. So I rented a couple from lensrental.com. This rental company is great based on my previous experience (I rented a 5D Mark II when my old one decided it did not like water too much). Their prices are SO much better than renting from a store. Renting from Calumet for instance is exorbitantly expensive. So much so that you wonder why anyone rents from them.
Primes are fun, but I have a conflicted relationship with them. The shots are sharp and you have a lot of creative control as you can shoot wide open, however, you're restricted in terms of zoom flexibility. So if I'm at a location I almost have to leave my other lenses behind to force myself to use the primes. Otherwise this is what happens. I see something that the prime can't do so I put on the 17-40 or 24-105 and then I simply forget to put the prime back on. And I notice new angles and perspectives fairly frequently so the primes tends to come off fast.
With the 14mm, 15mm fish and the 100 macro (which I'm using more and more) the primes can do something the zooms can't. They are unique. However, the 24-105 can take shots at 35mm just not below f/4.
I don't mind switching lenses. In fact, I switch frequently in all conditions (and get dust everywhere). However, I often have limited time at a location so I need to be time efficient. The consequence is that the primes suffer.
That being said the 35mm f/1.4 is a lovely lens. I love the picture above (best big). At f/1.4 you can lovely DOF and the 35mm is much sharper than the 50mm at f/1.4.
I'd buy it if it cost 500, but sadly it is much more than that.
...and then I'll confess. I lied. I did not get bored and decide to rent some primes. I really wanted to shoot with two full-frame bodies this weekend. So I rented a second 5D Mark II and then just included a couple lenses just for fun.
The problem is I really want a second full-frame. I'm increasingly frustrated with the 7D as a second camera; it is only satisfying for two things: (1) big zooms and (2) speed. The 7D is nowhere close to the 5D for low-light performance and the crop factor gets annoying with wides. I've found the hyped AF system on the 7D to be overrated. The problem is not $$, but the release schedule. A new 5D Mark III is likely to come in the second half of the year so why would I get a second 5D Mark II now? I should wait until it is released before pulling the trigger.
www.canonrumors.com/2011/02/what-next/#more-5928
Why two full-frames? I want to shoot in the following combos.
1. 100mm IS Macro
2. Wide (Fish, 14mm or 17-40mm or 24-105mm)
...but 1 is too zoomed in on the 7D and neither of the wides are wide on the 7D. I'd have to use my Sigma 10-20mm with the missing AF/MF switch - and I have little patience for it even if it was in top condition.
Both the fish and the 14mm are useless on the 7D. The 24-105 is not great either. In fact, the 7D is almost exclusively used with the 70-200mm or 100-400mm big zooms. And even then if I want a serious shot especially in low light I put the 70-200mm on the 5D Mark II.
For photo-walking in cities the 7D is fine paired with the 5D. I have the 70-200mm on the 7D for big zooms and unexpected action and a wide on the 5D. But if I want to shoot stuff that is standing still and not too far away I want two 5D Mark IIs.
Prime Test 1: 35mm f/1.4
(Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) - I was bored so I decided to try out some prime lenses. So I rented a couple from lensrental.com. This rental company is great based on my previous experience (I rented a 5D Mark II when my old one decided it did not like water too much). Their prices are SO much better than renting from a store. Renting from Calumet for instance is exorbitantly expensive. So much so that you wonder why anyone rents from them.
Primes are fun, but I have a conflicted relationship with them. The shots are sharp and you have a lot of creative control as you can shoot wide open, however, you're restricted in terms of zoom flexibility. So if I'm at a location I almost have to leave my other lenses behind to force myself to use the primes. Otherwise this is what happens. I see something that the prime can't do so I put on the 17-40 or 24-105 and then I simply forget to put the prime back on. And I notice new angles and perspectives fairly frequently so the primes tends to come off fast.
With the 14mm, 15mm fish and the 100 macro (which I'm using more and more) the primes can do something the zooms can't. They are unique. However, the 24-105 can take shots at 35mm just not below f/4.
I don't mind switching lenses. In fact, I switch frequently in all conditions (and get dust everywhere). However, I often have limited time at a location so I need to be time efficient. The consequence is that the primes suffer.
That being said the 35mm f/1.4 is a lovely lens. I love the picture above (best big). At f/1.4 you can lovely DOF and the 35mm is much sharper than the 50mm at f/1.4.
I'd buy it if it cost 500, but sadly it is much more than that.
...and then I'll confess. I lied. I did not get bored and decide to rent some primes. I really wanted to shoot with two full-frame bodies this weekend. So I rented a second 5D Mark II and then just included a couple lenses just for fun.
The problem is I really want a second full-frame. I'm increasingly frustrated with the 7D as a second camera; it is only satisfying for two things: (1) big zooms and (2) speed. The 7D is nowhere close to the 5D for low-light performance and the crop factor gets annoying with wides. I've found the hyped AF system on the 7D to be overrated. The problem is not $$, but the release schedule. A new 5D Mark III is likely to come in the second half of the year so why would I get a second 5D Mark II now? I should wait until it is released before pulling the trigger.
www.canonrumors.com/2011/02/what-next/#more-5928
Why two full-frames? I want to shoot in the following combos.
1. 100mm IS Macro
2. Wide (Fish, 14mm or 17-40mm or 24-105mm)
...but 1 is too zoomed in on the 7D and neither of the wides are wide on the 7D. I'd have to use my Sigma 10-20mm with the missing AF/MF switch - and I have little patience for it even if it was in top condition.
Both the fish and the 14mm are useless on the 7D. The 24-105 is not great either. In fact, the 7D is almost exclusively used with the 70-200mm or 100-400mm big zooms. And even then if I want a serious shot especially in low light I put the 70-200mm on the 5D Mark II.
For photo-walking in cities the 7D is fine paired with the 5D. I have the 70-200mm on the 7D for big zooms and unexpected action and a wide on the 5D. But if I want to shoot stuff that is standing still and not too far away I want two 5D Mark IIs.